Aviation Internships
Aviation internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working alongside working engineers and technicians, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings today cover {{top_industries_phrase}}, with RS&H, Garver, and Hanson Professional Services among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 13+ Aviation Internships
Hanson Values
Integrity | Commitment | Quality | Relationships | Innovation
If you’re looking for a firm that encourages innovative thinking and challenges you every day, with an opportunity to learn and advance, a career at Hanson is right for you. The belief in sustainability within our company’s practices creates a focus on client success and partnerships that are important to our communities and our environment.
Our Aviation Civil Engineering discipline is a specialized field of civil engineering and transportation planning related to the development and maintenance of airport facilities. Staff in the aviation discipline possess a wide range of skills, including planning airfield features; pavement design; site grading and drainage and associated modeling; and geometric layout of edge lighting, pavement markings, and navigational aids that assist pilots navigating an airport. Interns may perform and/or participate in additional activities/events which help them build a strong network within the Hanson community and with fellow interns. Internships may require travel to suppliers, customers, or other Hanson locations.
Key Responsibilities: Aviation Civil Engineering interns will be expected to perform the following key responsibilities with supervision and assistance from a Hanson Professional Engineer:
- Design development and preparation of construction documents (plans and material specifications), and the formulation of plan quantities and related cost estimates
- Collecting and assembling data for the preparation of engineering or environmental reports and studies
- Performing and/or reviewing calculations or reports such as those related to surveying, geotechnical testing, and pipe inspections
- Utilizing software such as AutoCAD and Civil3D, and discipline-specific applications related to surface drainage, culvert design, and pipe flow
- Conducting field investigations and/or survey assistance to gather site-specific data
- Documenting and/or observing construction operations
- Performing related duties such as writing memoranda, letters, or general reports; collecting and correlating engineering data; maintaining records; attending meetings; and operating technical equipment
Qualifications:
- Intern must be actively enrolled in an ABET-accredited civil engineering program.
- The ideal candidate will have successfully completed their junior year and be actively enrolled in a 4-year college or university, with coursework directly related to the position applied for.
- Those students who have completed more than 60 hours of coursework applicable toward their degree and have exceptional prior experience will be considered.
Key requirements are listed but not limited to the following:
- Strong analytical skills
- AutoCAD/Civil3D; or GIS proficiencies
- Productive written and oral communication skills
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Valid driver’s license
The hourly range for this position is $21 - $26 per hour.
Benefits
Our focus on people means we offer a generous benefits program to help you create a solid foundation for health and security throughout your career, including:
Competitive compensation
Performance bonuses
401(k) with matching contribution
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Comprehensive health & well-being plans
Financial wellness plans
Work-life balance programs
Want to know more? Visit our benefits page for all the details.
Culture
We understand that selecting a job is about more than the day-to-day tasks. It’s important to feel like you belong and safe to grow and progress along your career path. You’ll find that at Hanson. We have an inclusive, diverse workforce awaiting to connect with you and numerous opportunities to cultivate your career, including:
Monthly educational webinars
Leadership training
Lunch & learn development sessions
24/7 access to thousands of skill-building courses
Mentorship opportunities
Award-winning internship program
Employee recognition
And so much more!
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EEO — EMPLOYER
We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies/staffing firms. Resumes are only accepted from recruiters and agency/staffing firms if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position.
Hanson Values
Integrity | Commitment | Quality | Relationships | Innovation
If you’re looking for a firm that encourages innovative thinking and challenges you every day, with an opportunity to learn and advance, a career at Hanson is right for you. The belief in sustainability within our company’s practices creates a focus on client success and partnerships that are important to our communities and our environment.
Our Aviation Civil Engineering discipline is a specialized field of civil engineering and transportation planning related to the development and maintenance of airport facilities. Staff in the aviation discipline possess a wide range of skills, including planning airfield features; pavement design; site grading and drainage and associated modeling; and geometric layout of edge lighting, pavement markings, and navigational aids that assist pilots navigating an airport. Interns may perform and/or participate in additional activities/events which help them build a strong network within the Hanson community and with fellow interns. Internships may require travel to suppliers, customers, or other Hanson locations.
Key Responsibilities: Aviation Civil Engineering interns will be expected to perform the following key responsibilities with supervision and assistance from a Hanson Professional Engineer:
- Design development and preparation of construction documents (plans and material specifications), and the formulation of plan quantities and related cost estimates
- Collecting and assembling data for the preparation of engineering or environmental reports and studies
- Performing and/or reviewing calculations or reports such as those related to surveying, geotechnical testing, and pipe inspections
- Utilizing software such as AutoCAD and Civil3D, and discipline-specific applications related to surface drainage, culvert design, and pipe flow
- Conducting field investigations and/or survey assistance to gather site-specific data
- Documenting and/or observing construction operations
- Performing related duties such as writing memoranda, letters, or general reports; collecting and correlating engineering data; maintaining records; attending meetings; and operating technical equipment
Qualifications:
- Intern must be actively enrolled in an ABET-accredited civil engineering program.
- The ideal candidate will have successfully completed their junior year and be actively enrolled in a 4-year college or university, with coursework directly related to the position applied for.
- Those students who have completed more than 60 hours of coursework applicable toward their degree and have exceptional prior experience will be considered.
Key requirements are listed but not limited to the following:
- Strong analytical skills
- AutoCAD/Civil3D; or GIS proficiencies
- Productive written and oral communication skills
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Valid driver’s license
The hourly range for this position is $21 - $26 per hour.
Benefits
Our focus on people means we offer a generous benefits program to help you create a solid foundation for health and security throughout your career, including:
Competitive compensation
Performance bonuses
401(k) with matching contribution
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Comprehensive health & well-being plans
Financial wellness plans
Work-life balance programs
Want to know more? Visit our benefits page for all the details.
Culture
We understand that selecting a job is about more than the day-to-day tasks. It’s important to feel like you belong and safe to grow and progress along your career path. You’ll find that at Hanson. We have an inclusive, diverse workforce awaiting to connect with you and numerous opportunities to cultivate your career, including:
Monthly educational webinars
Leadership training
Lunch & learn development sessions
24/7 access to thousands of skill-building courses
Mentorship opportunities
Award-winning internship program
Employee recognition
And so much more!
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EEO — EMPLOYER
We do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies/staffing firms. Resumes are only accepted from recruiters and agency/staffing firms if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position.
Aviation Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Aviation Internship Search
Apply in fall for summer aviation internships
Large aerospace manufacturers, airlines, and defense contractors open summer cohort applications as early as August and close them before winter break. Smaller regional operators and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so check listings consistently across the full year rather than waiting for a single recruitment season.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Aviation intern recruiters have limited work history to assess, so your portfolio does the heavy lifting. Document two or three complete projects showing the tools you used, CAD models, stress analysis reports, avionics simulations, or flight systems design files. Recruiters need something concrete to evaluate, and a linked or attached portfolio separates your application immediately.
Combine campus fairs with direct company applications
Career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet face to face. Your professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller, less-publicized cohorts alongside your campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Aviation intern interviews often include a technical or engineering screen covering systems analysis, design reasoning, or applied mechanics depending on the role. Practice solving problems aloud and walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as the final answer you reach.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Large aviation and aerospace employers run rotational or cohort internship programs specifically designed to train people new to the field. These programs recruit in the first application wave and fill fast. Identify which ones align with your degree and graduation timeline, then apply as soon as they open rather than waiting to see if other options materialize.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 100% of the aviation internships listed here. Decide what location and work arrangement you can commit to before you open any listing. Filter by work type and location first on Migrate Mate so you are comparing roles you can actually accept, not sorting through postings that don't fit your situation.
Aviation Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an aviation internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, hiring teams at the intern level expect limited experience and want something concrete to assess. For aviation candidates, that artifact is a design portfolio, CAD files, or documented technical projects showing tools used and problems solved. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an aviation internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for aviation interns is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position for it by treating every assignment seriously without counting on a specific outcome.
When should I apply for aviation internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large aerospace and aviation employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before winter break. Smaller companies, regional operators, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently rather than waiting for a single season gives you the widest window.
Are aviation internships paid?
Most professional aviation internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, sector, and location, and ranges widely across commercial aviation, aerospace manufacturing, and government contractors. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing shows it so you can compare before you apply.
What should an aviation internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. List two or three complete, documented projects naming the tools used and the outcome, for aviation candidates, that means design or CAD portfolios, engineering analysis write-ups, or simulation and systems projects with files or reports you can share. Add relevant coursework, keep it to one page, and put the most technical evidence at the top.
Are there remote aviation internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the aviation internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts in areas like data analysis, systems engineering support, and software development fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a rotational engineering internship in aviation?
Rotational engineering internships place you across two or more teams or functional areas during a single internship cycle, exposing you to airframe systems, propulsion, avionics, or operations depending on the employer. These structured programs target students early in their degree and are designed to build generalist technical foundations. They recruit competitively and fill in the first application wave, so identify the programs that fit your school year and apply immediately when they open.
Can international students get aviation internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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